If it doesn’t exist, create it
Third Quarter 2021
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Hawk Pumps is dedicated to innovation, growth and problem solving. Troy Mokawem, national operations manager at Hawk Pumps, believes that innovation begins with a bit of inspiration and talks about two cases where creative thinking provided effective solutions for mining and construction clients.
“Sometimes, we need to go beyond our everyday boundaries in order to stay ahead in business,” he says. “Innovation and inspiration are the only ways we can move forward. And as a supplier of a number of high pressure spraying and pumping products, customer requests are not always cut and dried. We have to adapt and invent to keep them happy”.
This was very much the case when Hawk received a brief from a returning customer – a well-known manufacturer of heavy duty construction and mining equipment − who had an unusual project for the team to tackle.
“They needed a heavy-duty pressure system that had to be trailer mounted,” he explains. “The purpose of this unit was not only for cleaning the chassis after production, it also had to be able to remove the burrs created by the automated welding robots. “Our solution was a 380 V, 1000 bar electric system. When cleaning the chassis, a dump gun and rotating nozzle were used and when removing the burrs, a 15° nozzle, rated at 1000 bar, sprayed at an angle and easily sliced off the burrs”.
When Mokawem received an email from Australia from an engineer who had seen Hawk’s stope washer units, as used in the gold mines in South Africa, the client indicated that he wanted Hawk to adapt the unit to suit Australian requirements for the purpose of cleaning the massive dump trucks used in open cast mines. “The challenge here was that they required a 1000 volt machine, which we don’t use in South Africa. Aside from having to source the motor and electrical components, we had no way of testing the unit once it was completed. But the customer was so confident in our ability, he was willing to take that risk.
“The washer was successfully completed and shipped to Western Australia where it arrived safely and is reportedly working well.
“We recognise that many customers have unique situations and conditions that they need to operate under and an-off-the-shelf option is just not going to work for them. As such, we are driven to develop customised solutions to suit those customers’ unique circumstances. Covid-19 has forced us all to adapt. Constant innovation is the only way we as organisations can continue to thrive and stay ahead, providing employment and enrichment opportunities for young people in the long run. As responsible businesses, it falls to us to be agile and to change with the times so that we help create a fertile economic environment for the future.”
Further reading:
Control without complexity
Axiom Hydraulics
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
In an era where precision, performance and smart control define industrial success, the right driver can make all the difference. At Axiom Hydraulics, we’ve seen firsthand how the Sun Hydraulics XMD series transforms hydraulic systems, from mining and construction to agriculture and automation.
Read more...
Planetary gear units for high torque requirements
SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Packing a compact design, along with high torque and low-speed outputs, the new SEW PPK and SEW P2.e planetary gear units from SEW-EURODRIVE offer new capabilities in continuous heavy-duty applications where space is at a premium.
Read more...
Medium voltage drive for enhanced energy efficiency and process optimisation
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Schneider Electric South Africa has unveiled its cutting-edge Altivar Process ATV6100 medium voltage (MV) drive range, designed to enhance energy efficiency and operational reliability across various industries.
Read more...
Servicing the electric motor sector
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Hexagon Electrical has expanded its manufacturing and service capabilities to meet the growing demand for customised, high-performance specialised electric motors in heavy engineering, and hazardous industrial and mining applications.
Read more...
Powerful high-precision hexapod
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
With the HEX150-125HL, Aerotech is launching the latest generation of its hexapod technology. The compact six-axis positioner combines precise movements with high load capacity and simple integration.
Read more...
Why turbomachinery should break free from vendor lock-in
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Today’s modern turbomachinery control systems form an important of operational efficiency, be it in heavy industries, traditional power generation or renewables such as hydroelectric facilities. Independence is the name of the game, and turbomachinery stands to gain lot from this newfound freedom.
Read more...
Industrial gear units for mixing and agitating processes
Bearing Man Group T/A BMG
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Nord Drive Systems encompass modular drive configurations that ensure optimum performance of mechanical speed control for specific applications in almost every industry.
Read more...
PC-based control for a food capsule and pod packaging machine
Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
For TME, a machine builder specialising in the packaging of powdered foods, Beckhoff’s PC-based control technology offers unlimited opportunities when it comes to performance and innovative capacity in terms of flexibility, scalability and openness.
Read more...
New torque sensors for fastening applications
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Sensor Technology, a global leader in innovative torque and load measurement solutions, has launched its latest advancement in torque sensing technology.
Read more...
Miniature position sensor for precision motion control applications
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The ILPS-13Z Series miniature linear variable inductive transducer position sensor is designed to deliver exceptional performance and reliability for a wide range of industrial and laboratory applications, including automotive R&D, motorsports, motion control, medical, military and aerospace.
Read more...
printer friendly version